Landisburg man competes in drag race series

When discussing the term "racing family' about people in central Pennsylvania, it's usually made in reference to dirt-track racing. But a pair of Juniata County residents and a relative from Perry County are making their mark on a quarter mile of asphalt.

Richfield resident John Wise and his nephews Jim Shearer of Thompsontown and Randy Campbell of Landisburg comprise CSW Racing and compete in the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Drag Racers' Association (MANDRA, mandraracing.com) series, for cars built before 1972, which runs in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.

"I raced a car exactly like (my blue 1967 Buick GS) in the '60s, and that's when I started racing," said the retired Wise. "When my niece met Randy, he was already into racing.'

"I've been racing since about 1977, off and on," Campbell said. "I ran primarily at Beaver Springs — and was the '84 heavy eliminator champ — but I've raced a lot of different places. I've even been to Florida racing, and there haven't been many (tracks) on the east side that I haven't been to.'

Those two, who previously co-owned a pickup truck they took turns driving, also co-own a black 1950 Studebaker that Campbell races in the East Coast Gasser series. The other vehicles in their stable are Campbell's red 1967 Impala and Shearer's black 1971 Chevelle.

"We sold the truck and bought the Studebaker," Wise explained. "Randy and I street rodded together, and Jim was always a ‘roundy-round' racer. We got busy a couple of times, and told him we needed him as a wrench. Then, Randy let him drive his car down the track one time.'

"I ran two rounds on Labor Day weekend last year at Beaver Springs, and that's what hooked me," said Shearer, who is a mechanic at Sutliff Cadillac in Mechanicsburg, and has worked for late model drivers such as Dave Kepner and World of Outlaws pilot Rick Eckert.

"The whole thing is, it's something to do with family and friends and have fun at it. And it's more of a challenge to beat one of these two guys than anyone else. But, whenever something needs done, we all jump in and help," Shearer said.

They work on their cars, which except for the Studebaker are street legal, on Tuesday nights in Shearer's garage.

MANDRA has two classes, designated A (cars that run under 10.5 seconds) and B (cars that run under 13.99 seconds), with the class winners facing off for an overall champion. Current standings have Campbell in front with 2,225 points, Wise is in seventh with 1,750 points and Shearer sits in 12th with 1,600. The series allows for taking the best 70 percent of finishes, so racers could miss a race or two and still have a chance at the title.

"The idea was when Randy and I started (MANDRA), there were 13-14 races a year, which gets old if it's every week," Wise said.

"I really wasn't planning on racing as much as I have, but the first week out with (the Impala), I won," remarked Campbell, who is self-employed. "And the first week out with the Studebaker, I won. So now I'm locked into a title, and I'm leading the points, both of them.'

The cars do not need roll cages and the drivers don't even need to suit up in fire gear. But they all do wear helmets and seat belts.

"The Studebaker has a full cage and five-point harness," noted Wise. "And we all have at least fire pants.'

The real competition between the trio comes when they face off with each other. That hasn't happened very often in eliminations, and only a couple of times during qualifying.

"We do have a little competition," replied Shearer. "When I go up against them, and there's been a couple times this year, there's definitely more pressure because of the veteran (Randy) is. And I think I beat my uncle once in the semifinals.

"One thing we've hoped for this year is that it would be two of the three going against each other in the finals. If things continue the way they are, all three of us will do well in the points. I was impressed that in my fourth time out, I made it into the rounds and got a plaque. I'd be happy to finish in the top 15 in my first year.'

Though racing takes up much of their free time, the guys still participate in other hobbies and don't have any plans to exit the track for a good while.

"I like this series because you're not pinned down to run every weekend," said Campbell, who has finished second and third in the overall standings. "We do an occasional nostalgia meet, but that's about it. The East Coast Gassers has a few races a year, too, and that's about all I can handle. I'd be happy to win one championship, but I could even see myself on a pit crew someday.'

"The other thing, besides the trophies, is every now and then you get some tow money," stated Wise, who ended one season in sixth place while running their truck. "I like racing, but, when we were sharing driving the truck, we'd all still go to the races.'

After a race in Atco, N.J., the MANDRA series ends its 2009 campaign at the Cecil County Raceway in Rising Sun, Md.